Knitting device



KNITTING DEVICE Filed March 8, 1952 INVENTORS. Mo E L EB ENSF'EL. 0. Mnc B UXBA UM.

I A TTORIVEYS.

Patented Oct. 27, l953 UNITED STATESPATENT OFFICE KNITTING DEVICE MacBuxbaum and Moe Lebensfeld, Flushing, N. Y.

Application March 8, 1952, Serial No. 275,581

7 Claims.

This invention relates to a knitting device, and more particularly to atoy knitting device for producing a continuous tubular fabric from asingle strand of yarn or the like.

Apparatus of this type heretofore proposed have had to be held manuallyin a substantially vertical position in order for the knitted tubularcord to be formed properly by the knitting device. This has provedunsatisfactory for a number of reasons among which is that it may bequite tiring and persons who desire to use the apparatus who are, forexample, bedridden, are put to a distinct disadvantage.

Furthermore, apparatus of this character heretofore suggested hasproduced a knitted t bular cord of substantially uniform cross sec tionproviding the strand from the source of supply is of a uniform crosssection.

One of the objects of the present invention is to form a knitted tubularcord of varying cross sectional area from, for example, a yarn having asubstantially uniform diameter.

A further object of the invention is to provide a knitting device whichcan be manually operated satisfactorily regardless of the attitude ofthe device.

Various, further and more specific objects. features and advantages ofthe invention will clearly appear from the. detailed description givenbelow taken in connection with the accompanying drawings which form apart of this specification and illustrate, by way of example, preferredarrangements of apparatus for carrying out the invention. The inventionconsists in such novel combinations of features as may be shown anddescribed in connection with the device herein disclosed.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation, partly in section and with parts brokenaway, of a device embodying one form of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the device shown I in Figs. 1 and 2; and

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken substantially along lines 4-4 of Fig.1.

Referring to the drawings in greater detail, the novel knitting deviceis constituted by a first member I0 in the form of a hollow cylindricalcasing having a passageway Illa therethrough in which is positioned forrotation therein a second member II comprising a needle guide which ismounted coaxially thereof. The secand member or needle guide II is ofhollow cylindrical form and has a passage Ila. therethrough and also isprovided with suitable needle guide-means which are well shown in Fig. 3at I2 and I3, such guide means comprising diametrically opposed channelforming members Iza, I21), and I3a, lab, respectively. extendinglongitudinally of the member II and. forming channels in which latchtype knitting needles I4 and I5, respectively, are axially shiftable.The needles I4 and I5 are respectively provided with end hooks Ila, I5aand pivotable latches Mb, I51) which operate in a well known manner. Theneedles I4 and I5 also are respectively provided with radially outwardlyextending fingers I40 and IEcwhich engage a cam groove I6 formed in thesurface of the passage Illa. In order to effect reciprocative movementof the needles I4 and I5 the aforementioned groove IB is oblique to theaxis of the members I0 and II whereby angular movement of member I0relative to member II will produce such reciprocation. The groove I6 isso disposed in the passageway Illa that such reciprocation causes theheads of the needles I4 and I5 to rise above the upper edges Iflb andIII) of the members In and I I, respectively, and thus into a yarnengaging position. Thereafter the needle heads descend to a positionbelow such upper edges. Such upper and lower limits of motion of theneedles are shown with respect to the hook I5a which is at its highestposition, and hook I la at its lowest position.

As viewed in Fig. 3, the inner cylindrical casing or inner member II isof somewhat smaller outer diameter than the inner diameter of thepassage Illa, such diameter being measured, for.-

However, the outer diameter of the member II as meas-. ured, forexample, across members I'c and I312, is: only slightly less than theinner diameter of example, commencing at point He.

such passageway adjacent the groove I6 where-- by suitable clearance iseffected therebetween. If desired, suitable longitudinally extendingribs: I Id and He may be provided preferably diametrically opposed andsituated, for example, from the needles I4 and I5.

We have found it desirable, in order suitably to tension a strand ofyarn I! as it is fed to the device, to provide a sinuous path thereforby means of an upstanding arm I8 preferably integral with thecylindrical member I0, the arm having passages I9 and 20 through whichmoves the yarn I'I. Below the arm IB there is formed a passage :2Ithrough which the yarn I! initially is led from a source of supply andthence outwardly through the passage 20 and thence again inwardlythrough the passage l9 and thence to the needles. Of course, if desired,the passage 2| through the cylindrical member ID can be formed in aportion of member ID above the level of the upper edge lob (Fig. 2) ifdesired.

In order to facilitate easy manual operation of the knitting device andto vary the thickness of a knitted cord, novel means are provided forgrasping and pulling outwardly upon such a tubular cord. The latter, ofcourse, is formed by the crocheting-like action of the needles HI andI5. Such tubular cord is shown at 22. Such novel means, in the formshown, are constituted by: a base member 23 which preferably is ofcylindrical conformation and which embraces and is secured to a lower ordepending portion llc of the cylindrical member II. The periphery of thebase member 23 extends radially outwardly beyond the periphery of thefirst-mentioned cylindrical member ID thereby facilitating the graspingof oneof the members 10 or H and the rotating of the other member. Apair of hollow tubular members 24 and 25 are provided in each or whichis formed a longitudinally extending slot 24a and 25a and also in eachof which is positioned acoil spring, such springs being respectivelyindicated at 26 and 21. A spring yoke cooperates jointly with both. ofthe springs 26 and 2! for urging the tubular cord. 22 outwardly and awayfrom the member H, such spring yoke being indicated at 28 and havingv asuitable hook, as at 2 9, secured centrally thereof intermediate thesprings 26 and 21.. Such book, of course, can engage the cord 22 andurge same outwardly under the influence of the springs. 26 and 21. Thespring yoke- 28 is slidable within the aforedescribed slots 24a and 25aand preferably has secured on opposite extremities thereof cylindricalmembers 28a and 28b for moving within the-cylindrical passages withinthe tubular members 2t and 25.-

The'springs 26 and 21, in the form shown, are interposed between thebase 23 and the spring yoke 28, such springsbeing of the so-calledcompression type which are distorted by compressing same. However, itis, of course, possible to interpose such springs between the springyoke 28 and a cross piece 39 which is secured to the outer extremitiesof the tubular members. 24' and 25, such springs, of course, beingextended. or expanded instead of compressed in order to distort same forthe pulling of the cord 22.

In operation the strand of yarn H is led through the openings 2|, 20 andI9, as shown in Fig. 2, and isengaged with. one of the needles I! or l5.The cylindrical members I and H are rotated relative to one anotherwhereby the yarn is formed by crocheting-like operation into theaforementioned tubular cord 22. The needle guide I i should be turned ina clockwise direction (Fig. 3) in order toform the cord 22. In order tofacilitate theformation of the cord, a length of the: strand I! may, atthe outset, be led through the passage Ha (Fig. 1) and a loop formedtherein for engagement with the hook 29 and thereafter the strand H canbeen'gaged by the needles I4 and I15 in a well known manner. The springs26. and. 211, of. course. are distorted to a desired degree beforeconnecting the hook 29 with such loop. After a length of the cord 22 hasbeen formed sufficiently long to extend below the base 23 (Fig. i), thehook 29 can, of course, be disengaged irom said loop and'engaged withthe cord. As the thrust upon the cord 22 progressively diminishes as thesprings 26 and 21 gradually lengthen, the tightness of the knitting willgradually diminish and the cross sectional area of the knitted cord willvary. That is, the cross sectional area of such cord will be relativelysmaller when knitted under a high thrust existing when the springs aredistorted (or compressed) to a high degree as compared to the crosssectional area of the cord formed when the springs 23 and 21 aredistorted a lesser amount. Thus a desired artistic effect due to varyingthickness can be obtained by so varying the thrust: upon the cord andarticles such as rugs or mats made therefrom can have imparted thereto-awider variety of shape and appearance.

If desired, the cross piece 30 may have a central aperture 30a thereinthrough which the cord 22 may pass.

While the invention has been described with respect to a certainpreferred example which has given satisfactory results it will beunderstood by those skilled in the art, after understanding theinvention, that various changes. and modifications can be made withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the invention and it i intended,therefore, in the appended claims to cover allv such. changes andmodifications.

What is claimed is:

l. A devicefor forming tubular cords. of varying cross section. fromyarn or the like comprising in combination: a first member having apassage therethrough; a second member comprising a needle guide mountedin said first member for angular movement within the passage formed.therein, said second member having a passageway therethrough anddiametrically opposed guide means positioned thereon, a pair of needlespositioned one in each of said guide means, means for reciprocating saidneedles when one of saidmember is rotated relative to the other member;and spring. means operatively associated with said second member forurging axially away from said member a cord in response to thereciprocation of said needles, said sprin means comprising; a. pair ofsprings positioned on each side of said passageway, a spring yokeextending therebetween, andmeansforsecuring suchcordto said spring yoke.

2i A device for forming tubular cords of vary ing cross sectionifromyarnor the like having in combination: a first member having a passagewaytherethrough; a. second member. comprising a needle guide mounted insaid first member for angular movement within the passage formedtherein, said second. member having diametrically opposed guide meanspositioned thereon, a pair of needles positioned. one in each of saidguide means, means for reciprocating said needles when one of. saidmembers. is rotated relative to the other member; and spring meansoperatively associated with said second member for urging. axially awayfrom said member a. cord in response to the reciprocation of saidneedles, said spring means comprising: a pair of slotted spring guidetubes, a pair of springs one in each tube, a spring yoke extendingbetween said springs and drivably associated withboth, and means forsecuring the cord to said spring yoke.

23. In a device for knitting a cord from a, single strand, a firstmember having a cylindrical passage therethrough and having a camminggroove formed in the surface of said cylindrical passage; a secondmember mounted within said passage, said second member having apassageway therethrough and also having a pair of diametrically opposedguide means on the outer surface thereof for guiding a pair of latchneedles, one in each guide means, each of said needles having anoutwardly radially extending protrusion thereupon for engaging saidcamming groove, said needles being reciprocable in response to relativeangular movement of said members; a base secured to said second member;a spring tube secured to said base; and spring means within said springtube, said spring means having a hook for grasping such cord knitted bythe knitting device, such spring means being distortable in response tomovement of said hook means near to said base for grasping the cord.

4. In a device for knitting a cord from a single strand, a first memberhaving a cylindrical passage therethrough and having a camming grooveformed in the surface of said cylindrical passage; a second membermounted within said passage, said second member having a passagewaytherethrough and also having diametrically opposed guide means on theouter surface thereof for guiding a pair of needles, one in each M guidemeans, each of said needles having an outwardly radially extendingprotrusion thereupon for engaging said camming groove, said needlesbeing reciprocable in response to relative angular movement of saidmembers; and spring means operatively associated with said secondmember, said spring means having a, base extremity fixed relative tosaid second member and having an opposite extremity provided with bookmeans for engaging said cord, such spring means being distortable inresponse to movement of said hook means near to said second member forso engaging the cord.

5. In a device for knitting a tubular fabric, a first member having acylindrical passage there through and having a camming groove formed inthe surface of said cylindrical passage; a second member mounted withinsaid passage; a pair of latch needles; said second member having apassageway therethrough and also having L diametrically opposed guidemeans on the outer surface thereof for guiding said pair of latchneedles, one in each guide means, each of said needles having anoutwardly radially extending protrusion thereupon for engaging saidcamming groove; a base secured to said second member, said basecomprising a handle which may be grasped for effecting angular movementof one of such members relative to the other; an arm secured. to saidbase; and spring means operatively associated with said arm, said springmeans having a base extremity fixed relative to said arm and having anopposite extremity provided with book means for grasping such tubularfabric knitted by the knitting device, such spring means beingdistortable in response to movement of said hook means to a positionnear to said base.

6. A device for knitting a tubular cord from a single strand, an outercasing; an inner casing coaxial with and journalled for rotation in thecasing first mentioned and having (a pair of diametrically opposedlongitudinal extending grooves therein; a pair of needles positioned onein each of said grooves, said needles having projections thereupon whichextend outwardly of such grooves; said outer casing having a camminggroove formed on the inner surface thereof; said projections on saidneedles engaging said groove, whereby said needles are reciprocable inresponse to angular motion of one casing relative to the other; armmeans rigidly secured to said inner cylindrical member; and resilientmeansassociated with said arm means and having a hook secured theretofor engaging such cord and pulling same, said resilient means beingdistortable by urging said hook to a position adjacent said inner casingwhereby the hook can engage such cord.

7. A device for knitting a strand into a cord of substantially tubularform having in combination, an outer casing having a cylindrical passagetherethrou-gh; an inner hollow cylindrical casing coaxial with andjournalled for rotation in the casing first mentioned and having a pairof diametrically opposed longitudinally extending needle guides therein;a pair of needles positioned one in each of said guides, said needleshaving projections thereupon which extend outwardly of such guides; saidouter casing having a camming groove formed in the surface of thepassage thereof, said projections on said needles engaging said groove,whereby said needles are reciprocable in response to angular motion ofone casing relative to the other; said outer casing having perforationsformed therein through which yarn can pass prior to engagement by saidneedles; an arm rigidly secured to said inner casing; and spring meansassociated with said arm and having a hook secured thereto for engagingthe tubular cord, said spring means having a base extremity thereoffixed and an opposite extremity thereof mounting said hook, said springbeing distortable by urging said hook to a position adjacent said innercasing whereby the hook can engage the tubular cord.

MAC BUXBAUM. MOE LEBENSFELD.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS MalisNov. 13, 1950

